Why Do Atheists Criticize People's Beliefs?

[Fireball]

I think criticizing the beliefs of religious people is exactly the same as religious people criticizing atheists or members of other religions.

Agreed. Personally I don't understand why anyone would mock or start criticising what others do/don't believe, religiously. If someone from a different religion or from no religion wants to discuss it, I'll talk to them about it and share my views of why I disagree with them. But other than that, I see no reason to just start criticising/making fun of/mocking other people's beliefs or lack thereof. Its entirely lost on me.

You're a nice person. That said, after enough people have got in your face about the particular brand of [whatever it is they are smoking], you might get tired of it. When viewed from a position of logical demonstrability, which many an atheist has had to work their way towards (unless they were brought up without a faith), it is irritating as hell to have the [religion of the believer espousing it] so espoused. Once I worked my way through the complete logical implausibility of the existence of the xtian god (raised catholic), when I happen to go to a church for the marrying or burying of a believer, I look at the architecture, and only see zombie worship and torture porn. YMMV

[Minimalist]

Agreed, Fireball.  As an ex-catholick nothing makes me more nauseous than the hypocritical pontificating of the church on so-called "moral issues."  The fuckers have not got a leg to stand on.  Pope Fuckface saying "oh, we're sorry" simply doesn't cut it.

[chimp3]

Sarcasm and mockery are ways to level the playing field. If a believer is using the authority of any god to embellish their argument then an atheist is reasonable in mocking that authority. Religious beliefs are only ideas. Silly ones at that.

[GrandizerII]

I tend to criticize certain beliefs when they hurt my brain and therefore I need to do something about them: "fix" them by arguing why/how they're bullshit. Religious beliefs tend to do that, same with grand conspiracy theories, pseudoscience quackery, and other persisting beliefs that are just plainly wrong and/or absurd.

I do the criticism more online though, since it is generally safe, whereas in person, people tend to lash out if you dare express disagreement with the views they hold dear to, and I don't like when that happens.

[chimp3]

When Hitchens wrote his well reasoned critique of the mission of "Mother" Theresa he began with mockery. Calling the book "The Missionary Position". Then calling her a fraud and worse. Why did he resort to these tactics? He very effectively stripped her of any pretense to holiness. Revealed her as a flawed mammalian primate like the rest of us. Then the real criticism of her works could take place. 
When Hitchens debated Sharpton he began by insultiing the title Reverend as something to be ashamed of. Then it was just Hitchens vs. Sharpton. There was no Reverend in the room.
I am just a chimp so I need to throw a little poop once in awhile just to remind us that we are just apes with silly ideas.

[Valyza1]

I am just a chimp so I need to throw a little poop once in awhile just to remind us that we are just apes with silly ideas.

Or fascinating creatures with a wealth of imagination and agency. Depends how you look at it. Neither way is objectively better than the other. If you take care of a garden, you're bound to nurture a few weeds. Likewise, if you're constantly throwing poop at knaves, you're bound to hit a few knights. The world needs both outlooks, but neither one is perfect. I tend to want to err on the side of vulnerability to danger, whereas others would err on the side of unjust persecution. The only thing that's guaranteed is that people will err.

[Harry Nevis]

I think criticizing the beliefs of religious people is exactly the same as religious people criticizing atheists or members of other religions.

Agreed. Personally I don't understand why anyone would mock or start criticising what others do/don't believe, religiously. If someone from a different religion or from no religion wants to discuss it, I'll talk to them about it and share my views of why I disagree with them. But other than that, I see no reason to just start criticising/making fun of/mocking other people's beliefs or lack thereof. Its entirely lost on me.

They're trying to codify their beliefs into law. If that isn't enough to make you want to point out their lack of critical thinking skills, I don't know what is.

[Valyza1]

They're trying to codify their beliefs into law. If that isn't enough to make you want to point out their lack of critical thinking skills, I don't know what is.

What does trying to codify beliefs into law have to do with a lack of critical thinking skills? Seems to me it has more to do with power hunger.

[Harry Nevis]

They're trying to codify their beliefs into law. If that isn't enough to make you want to point out their lack of critical thinking skills, I don't know what is.

What does trying to codify beliefs into law have to do with a lack of critical thinking skills?  Seems to me it has more to do with power hunger.

You're right.

[Minimalist]

Agreed. Personally I don't understand why anyone would mock or start criticising what others do/don't believe, religiously. If someone from a different religion or from no religion wants to discuss it, I'll talk to them about it and share my views of why I disagree with them. But other than that, I see no reason to just start criticising/making fun of/mocking other people's beliefs or lack thereof. Its entirely lost on me.

They're trying to codify their beliefs into law. If that isn't enough to make you want to point out their lack of critical thinking skills, I don't know what is.

C/L conveniently forgets that xtian dominionist shitheads.... let's make up a name:  Mike Pence, do not consider catholicks to be true xtians.  Bastards are still upset that the Reformation did not work out as well as they wanted.